Jaw Exercises

These exercises will help relax the muscles and increase mobility in the jaw joints. These can be done when symptoms are mild or non-existent. Do not do these when pain is moderate to severe, instead the jaw should be rested as much as possible during these more painful episodes.

Assisted Opening - Place two fingers on lower front teeth, slowly open as wide as is comfortable while pushing down with your fingers. Repeat ten times.

Midline Exercise - Look in mirror, bite teeth together, and look at position of two center teeth on lower jaw (central incisors). Open slowly while watching these two teeth and attempt to keep lower jaw "centered" as you open. Repeat ten times.

Simple Opening/Stretch - Open jaw slowly ten times as wide as is comfortable. Lateral Movement Exercise - Open jaw about one inch from clenched bite. Move lower jaw as far to the right (straight to the right without opening more) as is comfortable. Repeat ten times and then do the same on the left side.

Neck Stretch - Attempt to touch ear to shoulder by bending neck and not raising shoulder. Repeat ten times and then do ten more on the other side.